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5 Sheets-Sheet; 1

(No Model.)

LA. BURLBIGH. NARROWING AND WIDENING MEGHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTINGMAGHINBS. l No. 596,933. .Patent-@d @11.4, 1898.

ATTORNEY.

(N0 Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. A. BURLEIGH. NARROWING AND WDENING MEGHANISM BOR GIRGULAR KNITTINGMACHINES.

Patented Jan. 4, 18H

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ATTURNEY.

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- (o Model.)VA 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. A. BURLEIGH.

NARROWING AND WIDENING MEGHANISM FOB. CIRCULAR KNITIING MACHINES.

No. 596,933. Patented Jan. 4, 1898.

' 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.) mA. BURLEIGH.

NARROWINGAND WIDENING MBCHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

Patented Jan. 4, 1898.

wif/:(5555 l fN'o Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5,

l J. A. BURLEIGH. NARROWNG AND WIDENING-MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTINGl MACHINES. No. 596,933. Patented Jan. 4, 898

lll/VENTO@ UNITED STATES vATENT Ormea.,

JOSEPH A. BURLEIGH, OF LACONIA, NEWT HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO THEPROVIDENCE KNITTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

NARROWING AND WIDENING MECHANISIVI FOR CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,933, dated January4, 1898. Application flied February S, 1896. Serial No. 578,547. (Nomodel.) Patented in England February 6, 1896, No. 2,756.

To all, whom, t may concern: to reciprocate, and the needles which wereBe it known that I, JOSEPH A. BURLEIGH, thrown intoinoperative positionon alternate a citizen of the United States of America, rereciprocatingstrokes of the cam-cylinder are siding at Laconia, in the county ofBelknap, likewise brought back into action and the 5 inthe State of N ewHampshire, haveinvented successive knit courses are longer by one or 55certain new and useful Improvements in Narmore stitches than itspreceding' course, one rowing and Widening Mechanisms for Circuor morestitches being added at one end of lar-Knitting Machines, (for which Ihave obthe course and the fabric being thus gradutained a patent inGreat Britain, No. 2,756, ally broadened until the heel or toe is comrodated February 6, 1896,) of which the followpleted, this operationbeingknown as widen- 6o ing is a specification. ing.7

This invention is herein illustrated as ap- The example herein given isa circularplied to a circular-knitting machine for the knitting machinein which during the Widen knitting ot' stockings and socks in which theing operation two needles at each end of the I5 knitting is performedbyfa circular series inoperative series of needles are pulled down 65 ofneedles which are moved up and down in at once into active position andboth utilized vertical grooves in the needle-cylinder under in thecurrent knitting course and one of said the action of the cams on thecam-cylinder, needles thrown back into inoperative position whichencircles the needle-cylinder, the knitin the next succeeding course andagain zo ting of the tubular portion of the Work conpulled down intooperative position with the 7o stituting the leg and foot beingperformed in next adjoining needle and utilized in knitting continuouscircular courses by all the neethe succeeding course. This operationpredles under a continuous rotary motion of the vents a taut drawing ofthe yarn, as is the cam-cylinder, and the pouch-knitting for the caseWhen a single needle is pulled down, and 25 formation of theheel and toebeing performed it also multiplies the stitches at the joints of 75 inarc-shaped courses by a part of the neethe heel and joints of the toe,so as to prodles under a reciprocatory motion of the oamduce close Workat these points. To accylinder. IVhen the Work has been coincomplishthis down-drawing of two needles pleted in the knitting of a stocking toa point at once and the restoration of one needle 3o where thepouch-knitting begins for the forthereof to be drawn down with the nextad- 8o mation of the heel and toe, a number of the joining needle,it isnecessary that the lifting needles,usuallyone-half of the circularseries, cam be free to operate to lift out of action are at once throwninto inoperative position one of the down-drawn needles while the ont ofreach o the knitting-cams and out of throwing-down cams are in operativeposi- 3 5 the path. of the yarn and at the same time the tion. 85 motionof the cam-cylinder is changed from The principal object of theinventionin its a continuous rotary to a reciprocatory moveapplication to theclass of machines described nient. Then the knitting operation conis toprovide for the moving of two needles sitinues on the needles remainingin action, m'ultaneously into active position, a simple 4o 'aboutone-half of the circular series, and a and reliable mechanism which canbe oper- 9o needle at each end of the active series is atedrapidlywithout breakage of the needles. thrown into inoperative positionat alternate The general objects are to provide means reciprocatingstrokes of the cam-cylinder, so 4for holding a needle-engaging cam outof en-V that each successive knit course is shorter by gageinent withthe needles during its return 45 one stitch than its preceding course,one or inactive movement and to conveniently lo 95 stitch being droppedat one end of the course cate such means. and the fabric being thusgradually tapered Figurel of the accompanyingdrawings rcpuntil thenarrowest point of the pouch is resentsaside elevationof aknitting-heademreached, this being known as the narrowbodying this invention, aportion of the cam- 5o ing operation. The cam-cylinder continuescylinder being broken out to show the cams 10o therein and a portion ofthe guard-ring being l riphery the usual series of vertical grooves inbroken out. Fig. 2 is a diagram representing a series of the shortstud-needles used in pouch-knitting and the cams for operating themduring the widening operation when' the cam-cylinder is moving towardthe left, the view being taken just inside the cam-cylinder with thecams detached and looking toward the center. Fig. 3 is asimilar diagramrepresenting the same parts when the camcylinder is moving toward theright. Fig. t represents a plan of the circular series of needles and ofthe widening and narrowing cams in connection therewith, the lefthalffof said series being long butt-needles which are used only incontinuous circularknitting, the right half thereof having short buttswhich are used in continuous circular knitting and also inpouch-knitting, about one-fourth the circular series represented in outline at rthe right being those which are always in action duringknitting, while the others (indicated in solid black) are more or lessout of action. Fig. 5 represents an elevation of a fragment of theneedle and cam cylinders, showing the right widening-cam and a fragmentof the T- shaped slide engaging said cam and holding it in its lowestposition. Fig. 6 represents a similar fragment showing the leftwideningcam held in its second position by contact with the projectionon the sinker-ring, the cam-hook being out of operative position andbelow the studs of the needles. Fig. 7 represents a similar fragment ofthe cani and needle cylinders, showing the pivoted right widening-cam inthe third position which itassumes when its cam-hook rides in contactwith the studs of the passing needles. Fig. 8 represents a similarfragment of the cam and needle cylinders, showing said wideningcam inoperative position ready to engage the studs of two needles at the rightfor bringing them into operative position. Fig. 9 represents anelevation of a portion of the needlecylinder, showing the mechanism forreleasing the widening-cams. Fig. 10 represents a side elevation of saidmechanism detached. Fig. 11 represents'a plan View of the knitting-head.Fig. 12 represents a side elevation of one of the short butt-needles.Fig. 13 represents a side elevation of one of the long butt-needles.

The same reference-numerals indicate the corresponding parts in all thefigures.

A knitting-head is mounted on a bedplate supported on the frame of themachine. This knitting-head may be of any suitable construction. Asshown, it is similar in its general features to that illustrated anddescribed in my Patent No. 537,802, dated April 1G, 1895, and itcomprises a needle-cylinder, as 200, an annular sinker-bed 226,encircling the top of the needle-cylin der, arotary cam-cylinder, as240, adjusted in the needle-cylinder, and a rotary sinker-cam ring, as400, over and encircling the sinker-bed.

The needle-cylinder 200 has on its outer pewhich the knitting-needlesare disposed in a circular series in the usual manner and in which saidneedles are adapted to reciprocate vertically. About half the needles,as 230, more or less, have elongated studs 231 and are disposed in asemieircular series, and the other semicircular series is composed ofneedles, as'232, which are yprovided with shorter studs 233. A spiralspring-band rests in the circumferential groove andy serves to clamp allthe needles in the vertical grooves of the cylinder and permits them tomove up and down therein. A circular series of radiallysliding sinkers235 move in radial slots in the sinker-bed and play at their inner endsbetween the needles, coperating therewith in the knitting operation.

The rotary cam-cylinder 240 is provided on its inner face at its lowerend with a rib 245, which extends about three-fourths of the distancearound the cylinder and serves as a shoulder or track for the studs ofthe needles when the latter are in lowered position, the ends'of the ribbeing beveled. An inverted approximately V-shaped fixed cam 246 isdisposed between the beveled ends of said rib or formed integraltherewith, and 'two fixed side cams 2&7 and 2118 are disposed just abovethe beveled ends of said ribs and the inclined ends'of the V-shapedcam.These fixed side cams are provided with recesses 217l and 248. Twopivoted latching-cams 250 and 251 are adapted to bridge the spacesbetween the lower ends of the fixed side cams 2&7 and 2- l8 and thebeveled ends of said rib. Disposed, respectively, over the lined cams247 and 248 are two small fixed cams 252 and 253. An automaticswitch-cam 254 depends from a stud on the inner face of the cam-cylinderand is adapted to oscillate freely between the adjacent ends of the twoside cams 247 and 24S. The cams described in this paragraph constitutethe ordinary stitch or knitting cams for raising or lowering the needlesin forming the loops of the stitches. Ordinarily the moving parts of themachine are so arranged that in the continuous rotary motion of thecam-cylinder 240 for the production of circular fabric the movement isagainst the sun in the direction of the arrow 1 in Figs. 3 and 4. Thenthe course of the studs of all the needles is from right to left of Fig.3 on the line y y thereof-to wit, off the right end of the rib 245, overthe latch-cam 251, over the 'side cam 248, between it and the smallfixed cam 253; thence under the lifting-cam 271, which is held up by thecontinuous circular series of the studs of passing needles, thelifting-cam 270 being in position of rest, as shown; thence against theautomatic switchcam 254, which is swung by the needles toward the left;thence downward by the guiding action of said switch-cam between thelined side cam 247 and the inverted-V-shaped cam 2116; thence upward onthe other beveled end of the rib 245 and under the latch- IOO IIO

cam 25() onto the top of said rib. The nee dles are thus raised andlowered in an ordinary manner, and during said raising and lowering theycooperate with a corresponding number of radial sliding sinkers 255 andform the connected loops which constitute the fabric.

The foregoing description corresponds with that form of knitting-headwhich is illustrated and described in my patent heretofore referred to.

The present invention relates to that part of the mechanism for thenarrowing and widening operation and may be embodied in a knitting-headsuch as that just described or any knitting-head for which it isadapted.

Before the pouch-knitting to form aheel or toe, as the case may be, isbegun the needles 230,having the long studs 23l,comprising onehalf ofthe circular series of needles, more or less, are moved into inoperativeposition by any suitable switch device-such, for instance, as thatnumbered 260 in the patent referred to.

The narrowing mechanism may be of any suitable construction. Whenconstructed as herein shown, it comprises two narrowingcams 270 and 271,similarin general construction to those in the patent referred to, forraising single needles to effect the narrowing operation. These cams areattached to shanks, which are pivoted on studs 272 and 273 on the outerface of the cam-cylinder, and play in slots in said cylinder. Thesenarrowing-cams rest normallyin the recesses 247' and 24S in the fixedcams 247 and 248. Their shanks are provided with weighted arms, as 27a,which tend to hold the cams in said recesses and yet permit them toswing freely under the action of the needles. 'lhe cam 270 is adapted bya lip 276 or otherwise to engage the stud of a needle, and the cam 271is adapted by a lip 277 or otherwise to engage the stud of a needle.l/Vhen either cam rests in its recess, its lip is in position to engagea needle-stud. Then astud of aneedle strikes one of these cams, the camis swung on its pivot under the influence of the needle, and the lip ofthe cam acting in turn on the stud elevates the needle out of itsknitting-path into inoperative position. As the cam swings up it leavesthe ordinary knitting-path free for the passage of the studs of thesucceeding needles, and the studs thereof, passing under the lifting-camthus raised, serve to hold it in elevated position unt-il the workingportion of the current stroke of the cam-cylinder is completed. Thus noseparate mechanism is required for holding the lifting-cams ininoperative position. ln my patent referred to these lifting ornarrowing cams are engaged by a mechanism Afor holding them out ofoperative position when the wideningcams are operative, and they areprovided with teeth, which adapt them to be engaged by said mechanism.In this invention such teeth are omitted and the lifting-cams are alwaysfree to gravitate into operative position except as they are engaged bythe studs of the needles.

The needle-engaging widening-cams for bringing into action during thewidening operation the needles which were thrown out in narrowing are inthe machine shown adapted to engage the studs of two or more needles atonce. Two small brackets 280 and 290 are attached to the outer face ofthe rotary cam-cylinder at the upper edge thereof. The Widening-cam 300at the left in the drawings comprises a dependent oscillatory arm, whichis pivoted near its upper end on a pivot 284, projecting through thebracket 280. This arm is provided at its lower end with a fixed stud302, preferably integral with said arm, which stud extends through andplays in a slot in the wall of the cam-cylinder. The inner end of thisstud is provided with a fixed hook 303, which projects toward the leftand is adapted to engage the studs of two needles at once. The uppersurface of the stud is rounded to adapt it to slide smoothly under thestuds of the needles when in position in Contact therewith. The upperend of the oscillating arm is somewhat broadened above its pivot,forming lateral ears 304 and 305. A torsional spring 296 on the pivot284 tends to swing the cam-300 in upward direction toward the left. Thearm, stud, and hook are rigidly united and are preferably formed in onepiece of metal.

The cam 310 is of a construction similar to the cam 300, excepting thatthe hook extends in the opposite direction. This cam 310 comprises adependent oscillatory arm, which is pivoted near its upper end on apivot 285, projecting through thebracket 290, an inwardly-projectingstud 312 at the lower end of said arm, and extending through a slot inthe wall of the cam-cylinder. The inner end of this stud is providedwith a fixed hook 313, which projects toward the right and is adapted toengage the studs of two needles at once at the otherend of the elevatedseries of needles.

The cam 310 is somewhat broadened at its upper end, forming lateral ears314 and 315. A torsional spring 297 on the pivot 285 tends to swing thecam 310 in upward direction toward the right.

A T-shaped slide 320, having a vertical slot in its shank or body, isadapted to move vertically on a lxed stud on the outer face of thecam-cylinder midway between the widening-cams 300 and 310. Its shank hasan outwardly-projecting toe The outer ends of the top of this T-shapedslide are adapted to engage at once the ear 305 of the cam 300 and theear 314 of the cam 310. A fixed bracket 330 is att-ached to thecam-cylinder and extends radially outward and then vertically upward infront of the body or shank of the T-shaped slide. This bracket 330 isprovided with a vertical slot 334, eX- tending from its bottom to apoint about midway of its height, and on its outer face on the IIOopposite side of said slot with vertical cheeks 335 and 336, the leftcheek 335 having a notch 337 in its outer edge. A spiral spring 339tends to move the T-shaped slide downward and hold it in its lowermostposition.- As shown, this spring extends between a lug 338 on the innerface of said bracket and the toe 323 of said slide. A lever 340 ispivoted on said bracket and adapted to swing in the slot therein andbetween the cheeks 335 and 336. The inner end of this lever engages saidT-shaped slide. When the outer end of said lever is depressed, saidslide is raised and its T-shaped head engages the wideningcams to swingsaid cams into vertical position, in which case their hooks for engagingthe needles are in their lowest position, somewhat below the studs ofthe needles. lA springactuated latch 550, having a nose 551, is pivotedon a lug 553, attached to the cheek 335, and when the outer end of thelever 340 is depressed said latch shuts over said lever into the notch337 on the cheek 335 and locks said lever in depressed position untilthe latch is actuated to release it. A

The mechanism for actuating the lever 340, which controls the T-shapedslide, and the mechanism for actuating the latch for releasing saidlever automatically may be of any suitable constructionwsuch, forinstance, as that shown in my Patent No. 537,802.

A flanged sinker-cam ring 400 is adapted to rotate on the ange 226 onthe needle-cylinder and operates to throw in and out a certain number ofthe radial sliding sinkers. This sinker-cam ring is held on the flange226 by means of anged lugs 401, 402, 403, and 404, attached to theflange of the cam-ring and projecting inward under the iiange on thebedplate 226. Two radial lugs 405 and 406 are disposed apart from eachother in the usual manner on the cam-ring and have adjustable screws 407and 408. When the cam-ring is disposed on the needlecylinder, the boss244 on the cam-cylinder is between the adjustingscrews 407 and 408, andduring the rotation of the cam-cylinder said boss engages one of saidscrews and causes the cam-ring to rotate with it, and during thereciprocation of the cam-cylinder said boss engages said screwsalternately and causes the cam-ring to reciprocate, said ring remainingstationary while the boss passes from one screw to the other.

Two projections are disposed on the under j of engagement with theneedles during the return or back stroke thereof in each direction,respectively, and thereby prevent each of said cams from striking'on itsback stroke the stud of the needle at either end of the row of raisedneedlesv and also prevent said cams on their back strokes from draggingaround in contact with the studs of the raised needles. Thesewidening-cams assu me four different positions in the narrowing andwidening operations of the machine, as herein illustrated, to wit: Inthe iirst position they are engaged by the T-shaped slide 320 and heldin inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 5, during the narrowingoperation for the formation of the iirst partof the pouch. In the secondposition during the widening operation either is engaged and held on itsback stroke in inoperative position by engagement of one of the lugs 401or 402, respectively, on the sinker-ring, as shown in Fig. 6, while theother is free to act. In the third position either is released from thelug and its hooked stud is in contact with the under side of the seriesof studs of the elevated needles. In the fourth position either is freefrom the T- shaped slide and from the lugs and from the studs of theneedles, and is swung under the action of its torsional spring upwardinto operative position, as shown in Fig. 8, in which case the hook ofthe cam is in the same horizontal plane as the studs of the elevatedneedles. Its upward movementin assuming this position is arrested at theproper point by contact of its shank with the upper end of the slots inthe cam-cylinder.

The operation: In the knitting of the tubular fabric in continuouscircular courses by continuous rotary motion of the cam-cylinder in thedirection of the arrow 1 in Fig. 4 the studs of all the needles take thecourse from right to left on line y y of Fig. 3, all said needles beingthen in position for operation instead of a portion thereof being out ofoperative position, as represented in said iigure. In such knitting ofthe tubular fabric the narrowing-cam 271 is in elevated position, ridingon the continuous circle of needlestuds, which constitutes a circulartrack around the needles. The narrowing-cam 270 rests in the recess 247.The widening-cam 300 is held by the clip 401 in the inoperative positionshown in said Fig. 3, corresponding to the position of widening-cam 310in Fig. 6, and the widening-cam 310 is in the position shown in Figs. 3and 8; but both said vwidening-cams are inoperative, because they arenot required, and the the studs of the needles are below and out of theway of said earns. Vhen a pouch is to be knit to form a heel or toe, theneedles of the semicircular series of long-stud needles 230 are movedout of active position by the means hereinbefore described or otherwise.The motion of the cam-cylinder is changed from a continuous rotary to areciprocatory movement, as described in my prior patent, or otherwise,and

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the T-shaped slide is made to engage both the widening-cams, asindicated in Fig. 5, and hold them in inoperative position. Vhen thelifting-earn 271 passes the right-hand end of the short-stud series ofneedles, it falls into operative position in the recess 248', the pathof Athe needle-studs being broken by the elevation of the long-studneedles, and the carn-cylinder,before reversing,carries the lifting-cam270 beyond the right-hand end of the short-stud series of needles. Vhenthe cylinder is reversed, the lifting-cam 270 engages the short-studneedle at the right-hand end of the short-stud series and lifts it outof operative position, and the remaining shortstud needles pass underand hold up said cam 270 until all have passed under it, and then itfalls again into the recess 247 As the cylinder continues to reciprocatethe cams 27 and 271 act alternately upon opposite ends of theshort-stud'series of needles, raising one needle at a time at eachstroke in each direction until the required number of needles are raisedout of action, and the knitting of the gradually-tapered portion for theheel or toe pouch, as the case may be, is completed. The heel is halfknit when the narrowing is completed, and it may be assumed that at thispoint the earn-cylinder is moving in the direction of the arrow 1 ofFig. 4 against the sun. The mechanism which holds the T-shaped slide 320in elevated position and the Widening-cams in their iirst andinoperative position is released automatically by suitable mechanism,such as that described in my patent heretofore cited. Then the spring339 retracts said T-shaped slide and releases said earns. Then thewideningcams 300 and 310 are thus released by the T- shaped slide 320,the left earn 300 swings up a short distance under the action of its torsional pivot-spring 296 until it is arrested by contact ot' its ear 304with the projection or lug 401 on the sinker-ring 400. This lug holdsthe camBOO in its second position, and conn sequently its hooked stud302 for engaging the needles below the plane of and out of contact withthe studs ot the raised needles, and at the same time the right cani310, which is in a position beyond the lug 402 on said sinkerring, isswung upward under the action of its torsional pivot-spring into thirdposition, as shown in Fig. 7, and its hooked stud 312 then rests againstthe under side of the studs of the raised needles and is free to springupward into operative position as soon as it passes one end of thisseries of studs. The cani-cylinder then continues to rotate in thedirection of the arrow 1 against the sun for the distance of ahalf-rotation, and during this movement Athe lug 401 continues to holdthe left widening-cam 300 in the second position. Then the cam-cylinderreverses and moves in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. 4, which iswith the sun, and during the time that the cani-cylinder moves in thisreverse direction through an are equal to the distance between the studs407 and 408 the sinker-ring stands still and the boss 244 on the bracket243 moves out of contact with the lug 407 and into Contact with the lug408. During this part of the back stroke of the cam-cylinder while thesi nker-cam ring is stationary the left widening-cam 300 passes to theleft of and out from under the lug 401 and the right widening-cam 310passes troni the right of the lug 402 under said projection or lug andis swung thereby from third to second position. The leftwidening-cani800, which was held by the lug 401, when released therefrom flies upunder the action of its pivot-spring into contact with the studs of theraised needles at the rear, assuming the third position. Thecani-cylinder continues on its back stroke, arrow 2, and the left cam300 rides under the studs of the needles until it passes the rear end ofthe series of raised needles at or above the point Vr of Fig. 4. It isthen released from contact with the studs of said needles and swings upunder the action of its pivotspring into the fourth or operativeposition, where its hook is in the plane of the studs of the raisedneedles. The cylinder stilll continues on its back stroke, and when theleft cam 300 reaches the front end of the series of raised needles at orabout the point f of Fig. 4 its hook grasps two of said needles, asshown in Fig. 2, and draws them down into operative position, thenreleases their studs, iiies back into third position, and moves incontact with the studs of the succeeding elevated needles at the front,as i1lustrated in Fig. 4. D uring this back stroke of the cam-cylinderthe left lifting-cani` 270, which cooperates with the rightwidening-earn 310, rests in the recess 247 until it reaches the rear endof the depressed series of needles at or about the point r ot Fig. 4,and there coming in contact with the stud of the last needle at that endof said series lifts said needle out of operative position, then ridesover the studs of the succeeding depressed needles,as shown in Fig. 2,and on passing the last of said series at the front, at or above thepoint f, falls of its own weight back into the recess 247' intooperative position again. The cylinder 240 continues its back stroke,arrow 2, until the boss 244 is again at the right. During the backstroke the studs of the operating-needles pass from left to right online x of Fig. 2. Then the carn-cylinder reverses and makes a forwardstroke in the direction of the arrow 1 against the sun, and thesinker-ring, as before, remains stationary, while the boss 244 passesfrom Contact with the lug 40S into contact with the lug 407, and duringthis dwell the right widening-cam 310 is released from contact with thelug 402 and the left cam 300 is again engaged by the lug 401. The rightwidening-cam 310 when so released springs at first into second positionunder the studs of the raised needles 230, and then it passes od thefront end of said series at or about the point f and springs up underthe tension.

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l of the series of raised needles, as shown at the right of Fig. 3 andat or about the point r of Fig. 4. During this forward stroke the studsof the needles engaged in knitting pass from right to left on line y yof Fig. 3. The backward and forward strokes are repeated until all theshort-stud needles which were raised in narrowing` are finally restoredto operative position, two needles being brought into operative positionat once at each end f of theseries of elevated needles, one of saidneedles being raised on the next stroke and again brought down with thenext adjoining needle on the succeeding stroke thereafter.

Itis obvious that the order of knitting may be changed as desired andaccording to the pattern-chain used. For instance, the knitting of astocking may be begun at the toe in reciprocating courses after a'startof a fev circular courses has been made.

The construction and arrangement of the parts may be altered without adeparture from the Scope of'this invention.

I claim as my inventionl. In a knitting-machine, the combination with acam-cylinder, of a needle-engaging cam, and meansy for moving andholding said cam out of engagement with the needles during its return orinactive movement.

2. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a cam-cylinder, of aneedle-engaging cam, a sinker-cam ring, and means carried by saidcam-ring for holding said cam out of engagement with the needles duringits return movement.

3. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a cam-cylinder, of aneedle-engaging cam, a sinker-cam ring, and a camcarried by saidcam-ring for holding said needle-engaging cam out of engagement withtheneedles during its return movement.

4. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a cam-cylinder, twoneedle-engaging cams, and means for moving and holding said cams out ofengagement with the needles during the return movement of each.

5. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a cam-cylinder, twoneedle-engaging cams, a sinker-cam ring, and means carried by thecam-ring for valternately holding said cams out of engagement with theneedles during the return movement of each.

6. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a cam-cylinder, twoneedle-engaging cams,

a sinker-cam ring, and two cams carried by said cam-ring for alternatelyholding said needle-engaging cams out of engagement with the needlesduring the return movement of each.

7. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a needle-cylinder for theneedles, a camcylinder, stitch-cams disposed in the cam-cylinder,narrowing-cams for moving individual needles out of operative position,wideningcams forbringing said needles back into operative position, andmeans operating alternately for holding said widening-camsout ofengagement with the needles during the return movement of each.

S. In a knitting-machine, the combinationy of a needle-cylinder for theneedles, a camcylinder, stitch-cams disposed in the cam-cylinder,narrowing-cams for moving individual needles out of operative position,wideningcams yfor bringing said needles back into operative position,asinker-cam ring, and means carried byy said cam-ring roperatingalternately for holding said Widening-cams out of engagement with theneedles during the return movement of each.

9. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a needle-cylinder for theneedles, a camcylinder, stitch-cams disposed inr said camcylinder,narrowing-cams for moving individual needles out of operative position,widening-cams for bringing said needles back into operative position, asinker-cam ring, and cams'carried by said cam-ring for holding saidwidening-cams out of engagement with the needles during the returnmovement of each. f

l0. In a knitting-machine, the combina- IOO tion of free narrowing-cams,widening-cams constructed and arranged to throwin two needles at once,and means for holding said widening-cams out of engagement with theneedles during the return movement of each.

11. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a cam-cylinder, freenarrowing-cams, widening-cams, a sinker-cam ring, and means carried bysaid cam-ring for holding said widening-cams out of engagement with theneedles during the return movement of each.

l2. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a cam-cylinder, freenarrowing-cams, widening-cams, a sinker-cam ring, and cams carried bysaid cam-ring for holding said Widening-cams out of engagement with theneedles during the return movement of each.

13. 'Ihe combination of a needle-cylinder, a cam-cylinder, needlesdisposed in the needle-cylinder, stitch-cams disposed in thecamcylinder, narrowing-cams for moving individual needles out ofoperative position, spring-tensioned widening-cams pivoted eX- teriorlyof the cam-cylinder and provided with studs extending through slots inthe camcylinder and having oppositely-faced fixed hooks .for returningthe needles to operative position, and means for engaging and releasingsaid Widening-cams respectively on each reversal of the needle-cylinder.

14. The combination of a needle-cylinder,

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a cam-cylinder, needles disposed in the needlecylinder, stitch-earnsdisposed in the eameylinder, narrowing-cams for moving individualneedles out of operative position, spring-tensioned widening-camspivoted exterior-ly of the eam -eylinder and provided with studsextending through slots in the eameylinder, and having oppositely-faeedixed hooks eaeh adapted to engage two needles at once for returning theneedles to operative position, and means for engaging and releasing saidWidening-cams respectively on eaeh reversal of the needle-Cylinder.

l5. The combination of a needle-cylinder, a. cani-Cylinder, needlesdisposed in the needle-cylinder, stitch-earns disposed in theearneylinder, narrowing-Cams for moving individual needles out ofoperative position, spring-tensioned widening-earns pivoted exteriorlyofthe earn-cylinder and provided with studs extending through slots in theCam-cylinder and having` oppositely-faeed fixed hooks for returning theneedles to operative position, and means for engaging and releasing saidWidening-earns respectively on each reversal of the needle-cylinder,said cam-studs having rounded upper surfaces adapted to ride in ContactWith the studs of the needles.

16. The combination of a needle-cylinder, a earn-cylinder, needlesdisposed in the needle-cylinder, stiteh-eams disposed in theoamcylinder, narrowing-earns for moving individual needles out ofoperative position, spring-tensioned Widening-eains consisting of armspivoted exteriorly of the earn-cylinder, having rigid studs projectingthrough slots in said cylinder and provided with rigid hooks forengaging the studs of the needles for restoring Athem to operativeposition, means for holdingl said, widening-cams in inoperative positionduring the continuous rotation of the earn-cylinder, and separate meansfor individually holding the Wideningoams in inoperative position 'atdifferent times during the reeiproeation of the earn-cylinder.

17. The combination of a needle-oylinder, a cam-cylinder, means foroperating one of said cylinders, needles disposed in theneedle-cylinder, stitch-cams disposed in the eameylinder,narrowing-earns for moving individual needles into inoperative position,spri1igtensioned Widening-earns consisting of independently-swingingarms provided with fixed studs at their lower ends adapted to projectthrough slots in the Cam-Cylinder and having -ixed hooks for engagingthe needles, a movable sinker-ring disposed on the eameylinder andadapted to remain stationaryT during an are of movement of thecam-cylinder, and provided With proj eetions adapted to engage saidwidening-cams alternatel;v at each reversal of the Cain-cylinder.

18. The combination of a needle-cylinder, a oarn-oylinder, needlesdisposed in the needle-oylinder, stiteheazns disposed in theeameylinder, narrowing-cams for moving individual needles intoinoperative position, spring-tensioned widening-cams consisting ofindependently-swinging arms provided with xed studs at their lower endsadapted to proj eet through slots in the earn-cylinder and having fixedhooks for engaging the needles, a movable sinker-ring disposed in thecanieylinder and adapted to remain stationary during an are of movementof the earn-cylinder7 and provided with proj eetions adapted to engagesaid Widening-cams alternately at each reversal of the earn-cylinder,and a slide adapted to engage said widening-cams siinultaneously forholding them both in inoperative position.

JOSEPH A. BURLEIGH.

Witnesses:

F. C. Sonne, S. M. Donsn'rr.

